Also written A♭madd9, A♭m add9 or A♭
A♭ minor add 9 is built from A♭, C♭, E♭, and B♭. This advanced bass voicing places the 9th in the bass, requiring a wide stretch across four frets.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
A♭ minor add 9 stacks a minor 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 2nd above the root. The added 9th softens the minor quality compared to A♭ minor, which omits the B♭.
The default voicing places the 9th, B♭, in the bass, creating a suspended, unresolved feel. Use this inversion when you want the bass to lead with tension before resolving to A♭ minor.
A♭ minor add 9 is played at the 4th fret as 6 6 6 4: middle finger on the E string at fret 6, ring finger on the A string at fret 6, pinky finger on the D string at fret 6 and index finger on the G string at fret 4.
Tip — The hardest part is stretching the index finger back to fret 4 while the other fingers hold fret 6.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (9) |
| 3 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 6 | 4 | A♭ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 4 | 1 | C♭ (♭3) |
A♭ minor add 9 is written as A♭m add9 or A♭ minor add 9. It is also spelled G♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
A♭ minor add 9 contains the 9th but no 7th. A♭ minor 9th includes the ♭7, giving it a more dissonant, jazzy sound.
Yes, but the stretch becomes wider. The same voicing can be played an octave lower by shifting all frets down 12, though the bass may sound muddy.